History: As part of a plan to kill the
Avengers and take vengeance on the world itself for his death and
life, the Grim Reaper summoned and controlled the spirits of a
number of dead Avengers. He began by subtly corrupting his
brother, Wonder Man, who hung between life and death thanks to
the Scarlet Witch's powers and had served as the rift through
which the Reaper might return to the world of the living. At an
Avengers Day memorial for fallen Avengers, the Reaper appeared
and summoned Wonder Man and several other dead Avengers, using
them to battle and capture the heroes.

The Reaper, who was using collective despair to
slowly transform the Earth into a literal Hell, sent the dead
Avengers to kill the absent Scarlet Witch and to wreak havoc over
the Earth. Though the dead Avengers captured the Witch, she was
able to use her powers to undo the Reaper's control over them.
The dead heroes promptly returned to free their living
counterparts and help battle the Reaper. Meanwhile, the Scarlet
Witch used her love for Wonder Man to fully restore him to life.
The rift severed, the dead Avengers faded from Earth, each giving
a parting message to their counterparts. Wonder Man, using his
own love for the Reaper, managed to restore his brother to full
life as well, thus ending the threat.

Comments: Legion of the Unliving idea
created by Steve Englehart and Roy Thomas; idea, nature, and
roster for this version designed by Kurt Busiek and George Perez.

It's usually par for the course in these Legion
of the Unliving tales to note how many of the members returned to
life. This story was basically designed to set up Wonder Man's
immediate return, and later led to the resurrection of Hellcat in
the Avengers and Thunderbolts 2001 Annuals. Itw as also the stage
for somewhat rehabilitating Dr. Druid, who had been transformed
into a monstrous and pathetic killer in the Druid miniseries. ...and how long until Mockingbird's back? She almost had her
chance along with Hellcat.---Snood.